Improvement in mail-bag catches



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. K. CURLL.

} MAIL BAG CATCHER. No.18Z,805. I Patented Oct.3,1876.

N. PETERS. PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT PEARCE K. CURLL, OF HANOVER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFHIS RIGHT TO CHARLES E. GOFFIN, OF MUIRKIRK, MARYLAND.

, lNlPROVEM ENTlN MAIL-BAG cArc Es.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 82,805, dated October3, 1876; application filed March 9, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

My invention consists of a mail catching and delivering apparatus ofthat class designed for taking mail-bags from, and delivering them at,stations by the car as it passes without stopping; and its noveltyconsists in the peculiar construction and mode of operation of theapparatus, whereby the bag is taken with certainty, and without injuryto the bag, as

' hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of 'the apparatus as applied to use. Fig.2 is a top-plan view, with a portion shown in section; and Fig. '3 is asideelevation of the stationary part of the apparatus.

It is now common to takeup, and also to (le liver, mail matter on carswhile under motion, and many devices have been devised for this purpose;but nearly all the mail-bags are suspended from arms provided with hooksor catches of various kinds, from which the bag is taken by an arm ordevice that strikes against it in the line of the cars movement, therebyproducing a powerful concussion, which is very apt to injure or tear thebags. Moreover, by the present plan the bag is thrown with greatviolence into the car, at right angles to the line of the cars movement,which not unfrequently bursts the bag, and also injures its contents.

. The object of my invention is to overcome these difficulties, and atthe same time provide an apparatus which shall be more certain in itsoperation, it not unfrequently happening that the bags fail to be takenup by the apparatus now in use. I

To carry out my invention I proceed as follows: By the side of the trackI erect the bagholding device, as represented in Fig. 3. This consistsof a suitable standard or frame, A, to the side of which, nearest thetrack, I hinge a shelf, B, of suitable size and strength to support themail bag or bags I, one or more in number, as the case may require. Thisshelf is supported in a horizontal position by a pivoted rod or brace,O, the upper end of which rests loosely under the shelf B. In rear ofthe bag I, and reaching down to the shelf, is a swinging or pivoted bar,D, the lower end of which is made wide enough to bear against the bagnearly its entire length, and which, if preferred, may be made of metalor wood, in the form of a strong frame, the object being to have'a largesurface to bear against the bag, so that, when struck by the catcher-armon the passing car, the force shall be distributed over as much of thesurface of the bag as possible, and thus lessen the chances of rupturingor injuring the same, and so also as to be sure to move the bag bodilywithout any danger ofits slipping or turning sidewise and being thrownoff in the wrong direction.

Having thus describedthe stationary part of my apparatus, I now proceedto describe the part attached to the car. This, as shown in Figs. '1 and2, consists of a vertically-hinged receiver, L, cut away'nearly itsentire length, so as to leave two arms, b and cl, as represented in Fig.1, the upper arm I) being longerthan the lower one d. To the lower arm dis secured a bottom piece or shelf, 0, which projects inward, and hasits rear end inclined inward and downward, thus forming an inclinedshelf or chute, to receive the mail-bag I as the latter is deliveredthereon, and conduct it through the opening E into the car.

The apparatus constructed, the operation end of the upper arm 11 willpass behind the hinged bar D, strikingit on an incline, and therebyforcing it gradually .inward toward the car, and, of course, shoving thebag I off of the shelf B onto the inclined bottom of the receiver 0,down which it slides diagonally through the opening H into the car.Thus, by the combined action of the inwardly-mov- Erica.

1 ing bar or frame D, the passing car, and the receiver L, the'movementof the bag, instead of being asnsual, (a violent one at right angles tothe line of the track,) is converted into a compound movement, composedof the three movements-lateral, backward, and downward; and as the firstmovement is a gradual one onaccount of the inclination of the arm 0, itfollows that the shock to the moving bag is much less than it otherwisewould be. Moreover, as the inclination of the bottom or chute 0 tends tothrow the bag in a diagonal direction instead of directly backward, tothat extentis the concussion or shock between the bag and the walls ofthe car lessened. At the same time that the above is taking place, andjust as the bag is moved from the shelf, the

front end of the receiver 0 strikes against the loose brace O, knockingit over, thus permitting the shelf B to drop to the position indicatedby the dotted lines in Fig. 3, this being done to have it out of the wayof passing cars, and to prevent the accumulation of snow or ice thereon.

It is obvious that the shelf 13 need not be hinged, in which case thebrace 0 may be dispensed with, the bag being delivered just the .same;but it is preferred to construct it in this manner for the reason abovestated.

If desired, the bag-holding apparatus may .be covered by a roof, so asto protect the mailbag from storms and the apparatus from snow,

ice, and wet; and by the exercise of a little judgment and skill thestationary apparatus may thus be rendered a neat and ornamental affair,instead of being, as they usually are, an unsightly affair.

As a means of illustrating my invention, 1

have shown the receiver as applied to the top of the car, and at one endand side only; but it will of course be understood that they will .belocated at opposite ends and sides of the .car, so as to take themail-bags from either .side, and when passing in either direction.

On adouble track the stationary part of the apparatus may be locatedbetween the tracks and made to rotate, or be made doublethat is, with ashelf and bar, D, on opposite sides,

- facing each trackor there may be aseparate one located outside of eachtrack, as may be preferred, or as circumstances and the locality shalldictate.

It is obvious, also, that instead of arranging the apparatus to take thebags through the top of the car, it may be arranged to take it throughthe side, or underneath the body between the trucks upon a receptaclearranged for that purpose; and in the case ofheavy bags it may bedesirable to thus arrange it, in order to save the time and labor ofelevating to so high a position as would otherwise be required. It isalso obvious that, by reversing the parts the apparatus may be used withequal facility for delivering the bags or packages from the car as itpasses the various stations, it only being necessary to arrange thebag-holder with its swinging bar D on the car and the receiver by theside of the track. When thus arranged, as the car passes the swingingbar D as it comes in contact with the arms 12 of the stationaryreceiver, will be moved outward, thereby shoving the bag from the caronto the stationary receiver.

This apparatus may be used to deliver and take up express packages orany similar matter, and by arranging a series of the swing- Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim is' 1. An apparatus for taking onor delivering packages from cars, said apparatus consisting of a shelfor support, B, for the package I, an arm or frame, D, resting loosely inrear of said package, and the inclined arm b for imparting motionthereto, all constructed to operate substantially as described.

2. The hinged receiver L, having its bottom inclined laterally andlongitudinally, substantially as shown and described.

3. The hinged shelfB, brace G, and'the loose arm D, in combination withthe hinged re ceiver L, all constructed to operate substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

WILL W. DODGE, DONN I. TWIrGHE L.

